The Court of Appeal in Calabar has upheld the conviction of one Scales Olatunji, convicted for internet fraud.
Olatunji who had earlier appeared before the Honourable Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court in Uyo, on 27 June 2022, consequent upon which he was convicted for internet fraud and money laundering charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was sentenced to a whooping 235 years in prison without an option of a fine.
EFCC on her verified Twitter handle disclosed that, “the convict was prosecuted, following the receipt of a petition by Oslo Police District, Norway, requesting the assistance of the Commission in investigating a network of Nigerian citizens, who had serially duped some Norwegians.” Olatunji is believed to be part of a syndicate of internet fraudsters who specialised in compromising business emails.
The convict, EFCC further maintained, defrauded the Norwegian Government and its citizens to the tune of N525.1 million and used the proceeds of the crime to purchase luxurious properties in choice areas within Lagos State, an offence which contravenes provisions of Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
Dissatisfied with the judgment of the trial court, the convict approached the appellate court, where he raised 11 grounds of appeal and prayed that the trial court’s judgment be set aside.
Delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Muhammed Idris, leading a three-person panel of the appellate court, dismissed the appeal because the prosecution counsel had proven his case beyond reasonable doubt and upheld the lower court’s decision, condemning him to 235 in prison.
